Joshua Wilson’s FHSF Florida Top 25 rankings

It is game week and Week 1 of the 2023 football season is here and with that, it is time to look at the first rankings of the season as we embark on who is going to march towards a state championship. We look at our Florida Top 25 rankings to open the 2023 season.

FLORIDA TOP 25

Ranking, Team, Record from 2022 (except for IMG)

1. Miami Central (2M), 14-0

OF NOTE: The Rockets will open the season next week with a trip to Las Vegas when they take on national powerhouse Bishop Gorman.

2. IMG Academy National (Bradenton) (IND), 1-0

OF NOTE: The Ascenders took care of business against Lipscomb Academy out of Tennessee with a 35-10 victory as they got the season started a week early.

3. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) (3M), 14-0

OF NOTE: With national power St. John Bosco, Calif. coming to town this weekend, the Raiders will start the quest for a five-peat with a very challenging national game on ESPN.

4. Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood) (1M), 13-1

OF NOTE: Saint Frances Academy comes to town this weekend as the Lions will work towards defending their Class 1M title.

5. Lakeland (4S), 14-0

OF NOTE: Defending Class 4S state champions have a new head coach for the first time in 47 years, but the expectations are still high and the goal remains the same for the Dreadnaughts.

6. Columbus (Miami) (4M), 14-1

OF NOTE: The Explorers look to go for their second straight state championship and their third state championship in five years as they head to Clearwater Academy International this week.

7. American Heritage (Plantation) (2M), 13-2

OF NOTE: As part of the Broward Showcase, the Patriots will host nationally-ranked St. John’s out of Washington D.C. to open the season.

8. Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale) (2M), 11-1

OF NOTE: The Chiefs are looking for another deep playoff run and that challenge will start when hosting Cardinal Gibbons out of Raleigh, N.C. this week.

9. Venice (4S), 9-4

OF NOTE: The Indians will look to get to their third straight state championship game this season and will meet a formidable opponent in Armwood to open the season.

10. Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (1M), 11-1

OF NOTE: Conquerors will have one of their largest senior classes in Verlon Dorminey’s tenure as head coach and could make them a legitimate threat for the Class 1M title.

11. Miami Norland (2M), 9-3

OF NOTE: A lot of hype is surrounding the Vikings here, but can they flex a muscle with a tough schedule and with Miami Central lurking around in the region? A win against No. 5 would help validate the hype.

12. Clearwater Academy International (IND), 10-1

OF NOTE: The Knights will play a very tough schedule against some of Florida’s top teams and will host No. 6 Columbus to open the season.

13. Jones (Orlando) (3M), 11-3

OF NOTE: The Tigers have a lot of returning athletes to start the season and will open the season against No. 14 Cocoa this week.

14. Cocoa (2S), 11-3

OF NOTE: It will be a battle of the Tigers as Cocoa will travel to No. 13 Jones to open the season as they look to defend their Class 2S state championship.

15. Apopka (4M), 11-4

OF NOTE: The Blue Darters are looking to get back to the state championship game and they will start to make that quest for their fourth trip in five years starting at Ocoee this week.

16. Homestead (3M), 12-3

OF NOTE: With a new head coach in Ronnie Thorton Jr. taking over, the Broncos want to repeat the magical season they had last year as they host Miami Palmetto to open the season.

17. Seminole (Sanford) (4M), 9-3

OF NOTE: Karl Calhoun takes over as the head coach and there is a lot of optimism in Sanford that the Fighting Seminoles will be making a deep playoff run in 2023 as they open the season at home against Rockledge.

18. Edgewater (Orlando) (3M), 12-1

OF NOTE: The Eagles will start life without Cedric Baxter Jr., but head coach Cam Duke knows what it will take for his team to make a deep playoff run with the roster he has as they open the season at home with neighborhood rival Bishop Moore.

19. Osceola (Kissimmee) (4S), 10-4

OF NOTE: The Kowboys will start their mission to have another playoff run in 2023 as they get the season going against a very strong Treasure Coast team on the road.

20. Lake Wales (3S), 15-0

OF NOTE: With their first state title under their belt, the Highlanders return some of the key pieces from their run last year as they open with Zephyrhills this week.

21. Vero Beach (4S), 11-2

OF NOTE: The Indians look very strong again as they aim for another deep playoff run as they open the season with a challenge from Miami-Dade County as Miami Northwestern visits town.

22. Mainland (Daytona Beach) (3S), 11-4

OF NOTE: The Buccaneers return with a ton of talent from last year’s state runner-up team and another trip to the state championship game would not be far fetched as they open up at DeLand this weekend.

23. Western (Davie) (4M), 7-4

OF NOTE: While last year was not what the Wildcats had hoped for, they have remained one of the top programs anywhere in the state and will have a talented roster that should be set for another playoff run as they get set to host Milton, Ga. this week.

24. Florida High (Tallahassee) (2S), 14-1

OF NOTE: While several key athletes of the state runner-up team have moved on due to graduation, the Seminoles still have a lot of talent on the roster that should help them make another deep run as they get set to take on Trinity Catholic on the road this week.

25. Bolles (Jacksonville) (2M), 9-4

OF NOTE: The Bulldogs look like they have a strong case to make a deep playoff run again in 2023 as they prepare to open the season as they host St. Augustine this week.